Duct Tape is the classic mountaineer's fix for little holes. You can also pick up Nylon gear tape, or Gore-Tex patch kits. They will all do the job nicely.

Nope, there's a mesh lined vent on the foot box. Simply zip it open to let in the fresh air.

Hey Cam,

Arc'teryx produces a full size run in every jacket they make. It appears that Backcountry is sold out of anything smaller than a Large though. You may just have to try a different jacket or a different seller.

Nope. According to the Patagonia website they are made in Colombia.

The Nitrious jackets/vests are great if you're moving. So if you go for a nice cross country ski with the Swedish Olympic team, you'll be fine. However, if you're standing around waiting for a bus, or your car to warm up, the Nitrious won't be warm enough. Go for the Sub Zero SL and you'll thank yourself later. Also, say hi to the Swedish bikini models for me.

Absolutely. I would highly recommend this jacket for any sort of weather protection.

The Scarpa Mont Blanc has a much wider fit overall Matt. If you've got a wider foot, go for the Mont Blanc.

It sure is. By definition all Gore-Tex products are wind- and water-proof.

Caddidy, that depends on your activity of choice. For general mountaineering and glacier travel, check out the Black Diamond Sabretooth Clip. If you're into more technical terrain, such as waterfall ice climbing, the Black Diamond Cyborg Clip are an excellent option. Hope that helps.

Gary, are you saying The North Face would have to move their logo to accomodate your company? 'cause I somehow doubt that will happen. Also, check your CAPS lock, as it appears to be stuck.

Hey Tom,

Initially chucking this thing in the dryer will maintain the water repellent coating. Eventually (say 4 or 5 washes) you'll want to treat it with some cleaning and proofing agents. I would suggest Nikwax Tech Wash to clean the fabric, and TX-Direct to renew the water repellent coating. Hope that helps.

Andrew, these are full shank boots. That means the sole of the boot has little to no flex in it, and thus are very stiff. They are meant to provide a platform for your foot to stand on when covering exceptionally uneven (i.e. rocky) or technical (i.e. waterfall ice) terrain. If you're looking for a backpacking boot, I would recommend something with a softer sole, as mountaineering boots tend to kill your feet if you spend days on end walking in them.

No they do not. For extreme cold or crampon protection you're going to want to put some gaiters over top of these.

Hey Bob,

You've posed some good questions. These are important factors when shopping for a softshell jacket.

Firstly, no this jacket is no windproof. It is made with Marmot's "M3" softshell material which is the lightest and most breathable, but least wind-resistant of their softshells. It is best used for aerobic activities in cool conditions, according to the Marmot webpage.

Comparing the Approach to the Apex: The Apex is windproof, Approach is not. Apex is fleece lined, Approach is not. Approach will be more breathable and lighter. Apex will be thicker, and likely more durable. Both are water resistant.

Jackets that would be more comparable to the Apex Bionic include the Marmot Leadville, Outdoor Research Logic, and Mountain Hardwear Andriod. Honestly, these are all going to perform relatively the same, and brand selection is a matter of personal choice/bias.

Hope that helps.

The 9 Deluxe is pretty much too big to fit into any bivy. However you should be able to cram the DownMat 7 or 9 into any Outdoor Research Bivy Sack. OR used to distribute ExPed products, so the two brands work fairly well together.

Also the "7" and "9" refer to the mattress thickness in centimetres.

Sure it's comparable, but it's not nearly as warm. The Apex Thermal has a high loft fleece backer that the McKinley lacks. This makes all the difference when comparing softshells for warmth. Also check out the North Face Sentenial Thermal. It's the Gore Winstopper version of the Apex.

Not to my knowledge. Outdoor Research makes Windstopper pants though. Check out the Tremor Pant by them.

Hey Kevin. The Sentinel Thermal differs in two ways. First, it has a "high loft" fleece backer for added warmth. Most softshells have a microfleece lining that isn't very thick. The fleece in the Sentinel Thermal is somewhat akin to mashing a 100 weight fleece inside a softshell jacket.

Second, it uses Gore Windstopper as a laminate. This is where the cost difference (mostly) comes from. The North Face has to pay Gore to use its fabric (the Windstopper liner), and Gore fabric doesn't come cheap. This is partly due to Gore's reputation with the Gore-Tex fabric. So, The North Face passes on the cost to you, the comsumer. Think of it as a brand name windproof liner.

The McKinley uses The North Face's Apex ClimateBloc, which is also windproof, but it doesn't cost them money since they own the technology. Thus, the jacket is cheaper.

Lastly, I just thought of this, the Sentinel Thermal is a "Summit Series" jacket which will cost more simply because it's more "hardcore".

You are correct Robsta. There is indeed a side zip on these bad boys. I sure wish they still had my size in stock.

This jacket is not insulated, and as such will not keep you very warm. I would suggest packing along a solid fleece jacket to provide warmth, and then layering something like the Watertight over top to keep rain/wind off you. That way the fleece insulates, and the Watertight protects.

Nic, having seen these pants I can confirm the Cypress colour is green.

Hi Alison,

Check out the North Face Sentinel Thermal jacket. It's exactly the same as the Apex Bionic Thermal, except it has a Gore Windstopper liner. BC has a complete size run in Red, and it's on sale right now for $160 (regularly $230).

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/The-North-Face-Sentinel-Thermal-Softshell-Jacket-Mens/TNF3629M.html

Side note: BC will carry the Apex Bionic Thermal again in the fall. It's a fall/winter item from the North Face and won't be available again until September-ish. Hope that helps.

Hey,

This jacket is made with Marmot's "M3 Softshell" fabric. It's not windproof, and they don't assign any numbers to indicate the degree of wind-resistance...ness. It'll be good for doing anything aerobic where you're generating your own body heat. For standing around on a blustery day you'll likely want something warmer and/or wind-proof...ier.

The material on the shoulders and hem on the exterior of the jacket is not fleece. It's made of abrasion resistant nylon. Inside the jacket is all fleece though.

Actually Dakka they are insulated. According to the link you posted they use a "Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort Footwear" liner. Here is the link to Gore's site that explains the insulation levels and options:
http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satellite/men/footwear/insulated-comfort

Yes the Nepal EVO is insulated as well. You will find it of comparable warmth to the Summits.

Hey Ryan, as a rule Scarpa boots are generally wider than La Sportiva. Check out the Scarpa Summit, Triolet, or Mont Blanc and see if they will suite your needs.

Pamir is a windproof fleece jacket and the Sentinel is a windproof softshell. The Sentinel will stand up to water better, since softshells shed water quite well.

Definitely a small.

The biggest difference is the material the jacket is made from. The Narvik is made using Gore-Tex Softshell, which means the jacket has a little stretch, or "give", to it. The Lofoten is constructed with Gore-Tex Pro Shell which does not stretch. Both are wind/waterproof and will serve you well though.

Whatever shell you want will work just fine. The North Face Venture jacket is simple, light, and cheap. If you want something a little sturdier, I would suggest a jacket made with Gore-Tex or eVent.

Hey J. See my answer to your question over on the page for the Triolet.

This boot totally fits the bill. And with Backcountry wicked awesome return policy, it's likely your boot luck will change.

Ah wonderful. I love comparing products.

Okay J, let's start with the Triolet. It's a nice boot for summer mountaineering. The sole is rather flexible for a full shank boot, but still provides ample support for scrambling over rocky terrain and climbing up to 5.8/9. The boot is not insulated, so you'll want something warmer if ice climbing is more your thing. The Triolet is fairly light and has what I would call a soild "medium" fit. It's not really narrow, nor is it wide.

Now the Summit. I have these boots and thus far they have been great. If you can get the fit dialed, they'll perform just about anywhere. Compared to the Triolet, the Summit fits much wider. I had some troubles with heel lift since the Summit has a higher volumn last than the Triolet. These suckers are super warm, but not sweat-inducingly so. They are stiffer than the Triolets, so front-pointing on vertical ice is fairly comfortable. Indeed, they are heavier, but a much better "all round" mountaineering boot.

These boots are both waterproof (Gore-Tex lining) and crampon compatible. The Summit will take Grivel GSB style crampons and has two welts (toe and heel). The Triolet only has the heel welt.

I would reccommend the Triolet for summer mountaineering and glacier travel. It's light and sturdy enough for most terrain you'll encounter without needing ice tools. For vertical ice or cold excursions I would suggest the Summits for sure. However it all comes down to how well they fit your feet. If possible, try both of these boots on before purchasing them. Hope that helps

Note that the Sentinel Thermal is Summit Series, but the plain old Sentinel is not as of Fall '09.

Hey Dan,

This jacket differs from the Bionic in a few ways. Firstly it uses a Gore Windstopper laminate which makes the jacket 100% windproof. It is also more breathable than the Bionic. Secondly this jacket has a high loft (i.e. tall) fleece lining which makes it much warmer than your standard Apex Bionic. You also lose the Napoleon pocket (place over the upper left chest) from the Bionic.

The two jackets are similar in that the face fabric is the same. They are also both water resistant and will stand up well to a moderate rain. Fit wise the jackets will fit the same.

It means the fabric itself is not waterproof and/or the seams are not taped. To be fully waterproof a jacket needs to have waterproof fabric, taped seams (since stitch holes are not waterproof), and a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating on the fabric.

This jacket has the DWR so it will shed a light rain, but the jacket will soak through eventually in a medium/heavy rain. For general and casual use a jacket that is "highly water resistant" is good enough. I've got quite a few and they have yet to let me down.

Yep it sure is. The jacket uses Marmot's proprietary MemBrain laminate which is both wind- and water-proof

NONONO,

It just has the two outside pockets.

No it's not warm. It has no insulation to retain your body heat.

Liam, you need to offset the cost of buying shoes with renting shoes. If you're getting out once a week and it costs you, say, $7 to rent shoes, then in 12 weeks you've paide $84 to rent shoes. You can easily buy a pair for $84. If you're going more often, then you'll save money from renting even sooner.

I'd say as soon as you find yourself making a habit of going to the climbing gym, buy some shoes. You won't regret it.

Hi Tom,

I do not believe the skirt is removable.

Hi Kim,

This is a solid midweight fleece jacket and I think it would serve you well for 40-50 degree weather. I have two similar jackets and regularly wear them down to -10 with appropirate layers. A sweater of some sort may be required underneath depending on if you're naturally warm or cool. Note that this jacket is not windproof, so you'll need a shell of some sort to stay warm on blustery days. Hope that helps.

Hi Jori. I think you'll be much warmer in the McMurdo jacket. While the Honcho is nice, it's meant to be part of a layering system. The McMurdo can pretty much be worn with a t-shirt underneath and you'll be warm. Give it a shot, and if it doesn't work for you it can always be returned.

Hi Lexie,

Sounds like this would be a good fit for you. If you're doing a lot of outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, climbing, skiing, snowshoeing, camping) then I'd say go for something beefier. However it sounds like you'll be doing some recreational skiing and dodging rain clouds, so this should work just find for you.

Coupled with your fleece jacket this will provide a very versitile and functional layering system for the conditions you'll likely encounter.

Hi Ely,

Jon Webb can correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know the Alchemy has been around nearly as long as Mountain Hardwear and remains virtually unchanged in the last couple years. It's listed as their "flagship" jacket, so I really don't see MHW making a significant change to it for 2010. It's on sale because 1) It's Christmas and 2) Backcountry wants to clear out their winter gear for when the spring stuff starts arriving in February.

Go ahead and buy it. You won't be disappointed as long as you heed the warnings regarding sizing.

Hey Jse, these are not warm boots. They are not insulated, so they're best suited for summer mountaineering. If you're looking for a warm Scarpa try the Freney, or the Summit. I have the Summit and find them plenty warm for picking my way up ice in winter.

Hey John, from one Canadian to the next, I don't consider this a winter jacket. Generally speaking I find the use of softshells as insulation layers inadequate when the temp hits -15 as it so often does in our country. My advice would be to look for a a 3-in-1 jacket (if that's what you like) with a thick fleece or down liner. That'll keep you much warmer when you're out about town.

That's a tough call SM. You're kind of between sizes. Norrona fits small, as a rule, but you might find the Large to be too long. I'd say give it a shot. If it doesn't fit right, just return it. Backcountry has a superb return policy.

Hi Leah,

I'll answer your questions in the order you posed them.

1. The entire boot is waterproof. It uses Columbia's Omni-Tech waterproofing to ensure the whole boot is waterproof.

2. The recharging area is just a little plug on the back of the boot. The actual battery and heating circuitry are sealed inside the midsole where water cannot get to them.

3. Since these are designed as winter boots the description mentions snow but neglects the other phases of water. However these are indeed waterproof, so they will keep your son's feet dry even if he's standing in a puddle.

4. No, since the heating pads and wiring are all sealed, no water can get in. Keep in mind the entire sole of the boot is rubber and rubber is a poor conductor of electricity.

Also of note, Backcountry is totally sold out of these boots. They may get more, but you'd have to ask one of their customer service reps to confirm that. Hope that helps.

This is just a shell. You'll have to layer it with something else to insulate yourself.

Hey Brian, no treatment is necessary as the glove has a complete Gore-Tex insert. Eventually the water repellent finish on the leather will wear off, but water will not soak through the Gore-Tex underneath.

If you want to maintain the water repellent coating on the leather try the sponge on Glove Proof from Nikwax.

Hi Susan. Any time you see a "(number)K" rating for waterproofing it refers to the water column test. This fabric is rated to stop a 5000 mm water column over a 24 hour period of time. Any more than that and the fabric starts to leak.

I highly suspect you've seen ratings of "10K" not "1K" as the latter seems ridiculously low. That just means the fabric will withstand a 10000 mm water column for 24 hours. Most fabric are in the 10-25 K rating. We're starting to see some 30K jackets out there and even the odd 40K, but they are not widespread yet.

Gore-Tex does not use this type of testing to "rate" their fabrics so the waterproof rating of a Gore-Tex piece is "guaranteed". That means if it leaks, they will warranty it no questions asked.

That depends where you are skiing Shaun. If you stick to nice dry Canadian Rockies skiing like me, you'll be fine. If you're closer to the coast where the snow tends to be wetter, you'll probably want something waterproof. Also if you're just ripping around on the hill this will likely be fine, but backcountry adventures almost necessitate waterproof clothing.

Hi Amanda. This jacket will repel Vancouver rain and stop Winnipeg wind, but it's not insulated. You'll need something underneath to protect you from Edmonton cold.

This question is more difficult to answer than you may think Jessica. Jackets don't come with temperature ratings, so we have to measure warmth somehow else.

This jacket isn't "warm" in the sense that it has insulation. It's only a shell. However the shell is windproof, so it keeps you slightly warmer in that regard. The relative warmth of a jacket also depends on you, the wearer. Generally I'm a cold person, so these shell-type jackets typically do not offer enough heat retention to keep me warm.

If we use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is a cotton t-shirt and 10 is a down parka, I would rate this 2.5 plus/minus 0.5. It will also depend on what you're using it for. This jacket will keep you much warmer if you're generating heat, say by going ice climbing, than if you're standing around, say waiting for the bus.

Hey Dar. The Aconcagua is not zip-in compatible, so it won't "connect" to another jacket. Just pick up your favorite shell and throw it over top. I would recommend any of the Gore-Tex shells from Outdoor Research.

If the women's version is the same as the men's, then the chest and shoulders are windproof (i.e. CFM <= 2), but the rest of the jacket appears to be wind-resistant (i.e. CFM ~15)

Hi there Pete. According to Columbia's website the heating pad has three settings. On high you can expect 3 hours of heat, low will provide 8 hours and medium will fall somewhere in the middle. They don't actually provide a number for the medium setting, but I would imagine it's close to 5.5 hours. Hope that helps

Hey James, the knees are lined with Paclite, but the rest of the pants are made of Gore-Tex Pro Shell. See the listing on Montbell's website here:
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=60&p_id=2328492

Hey Kat. Altering technical outerwear is tricky business. You need to find a truly brave tailor that is willing to tackle a down jacket. If there is a place near you that does custom down work they might be willing to touch it, but your average "Jim's Alterations" in the mall won't go anywhere near it. My advice would be to return the jacket to Backcountry and exchange it for something that fits you better. Mountain Hardwear makes a Downtown Coat that is very similar to this one that you might like, and tends to fit a bit shorter. Hope that helps.

Well Backcountry obviously doesn't have it. Try some of the other retailors listed here: http://www.mountainhardwear.com/WhereToBuy.aspx?jdeStyleId=OM3155&top=1827&cat=1870&prod=3516&isGeneric=false

Heh..."sans". Awesome.

I would try any camping store in your area, or any shop with a gear repair department. I know here we have a decent shop that does second hand gear and repairs, so you may want to see if there's something like that near you. Failing that give your local REI a call and see if they can just send you one. I think the closest one to you will be in Mass. though.

I have the Mentor as well in a medium and it does fit a little larger. I'm 2" taller than you, so it fits me well for winter activities. You're bang on when you say it's meant to allow layering. OR cuts their shells a little bigger for that very reason. If it doesn't fit, just exchange it for a small. Backcountry.com has a fantastic return/exchange policy.

Nancy that's going to happen with any down jacket, especially new ones. During construction of the jacket some of the down gets trapped, usually in seams, and eventually works its way to the surface. There really isn't anything you can do to "seal" the jacket short of covering the entire inside with duct tape. If you're just leaking a few feathers, then I wouldn't worry about it. However if you suddenly empty a baffle then it's time to head back to the store and warranty the jacket.

Hey there Ely. Welcome to the world of softshells, my favorite type of jackets. You won't be disappointed. Here are my thoughts on those three jackets.

The TNF Apex Bionic is a solid softshell. It's a no-thrills package that is windproof, water resistant and decently warm. It'll breathe fairly well, but it's boring. Every 19 year old kid in the mountains has one.

The Marmot Ultima is kind of interesting. I like the carbon from coconut fabric for natural odor protection. However I think you'll find it a little on the chilly side, especially when you're just standing around. If you're a naturally warm person though, this might be a good investment.

The Alchemy is lined with Gore Windstopper which makes it totally windproof, but also highly water resistant. The Apex Bionic is also windproof and water resistant, but the pockets are too darn low to get in when I'm wearing a harness or backpack hip belt. If you plan on wearing a pack at all I would suggest going for the Alchemy since the pockets are placed high enough to get at when your pack hip belt is doing its job. The MHW Alchemy is my favorite of the three, and that's mostly due to the pocket placement.

Also, the Alchemy will have a very athletic fit to it. The medium for you will be perfect. TNF fits a little boxier, so depending on how much room you want sizing down to the small might be a good idea. I'm the same size as you, just 10 lbs heavier, and the small Bionic fit nicely. There wasn't much room underneath, but sometimes that's okay. I'm not sure what the sizing is like on the Ultima, but I do know Marmot tends to fit rather "athletically". Therefore you should probably try a medium in that one too.

Hope that helps.

I would contact Scarpa directly Garrett. They can either find a vendor for you, or potentially sell you laces directly. Give them a call at 303.998.2895.

Nope, these boots are waterproof right out of the box.

Jon, that depends entirely on what you're using the jacket for. If I'm just walking from the house to the car, and from the car to the office, then replacing my nylon rain jacket with a Gore-Tex shell really isn't worth it. However, if I'm ski touring, ice climbing, and in heavy rain a lot then the nylon jacket is bound to get shredded where a sturdier shell (soft or hard, some softshells are pretty weatherproof these days) would stand strong.

If you can't rationalize upgrading chances are you don't need to. As long as your jackets keep you warm, dry, and safe when they need to, there's no point in blowing money on something that's newer and shinier. That is, of course, in my opinion.

Hey Joe. The Kramer itself is not overly warm I would recommend layering with it. If you like Mountain Hardwear the Monkey Man Fleece is pretty kick-ass to layer with. I have last year's model and it's super warm. Also the Nitrous Jacket is a very nice down-insulated layering piece. If you want to look outside Mountain Hardwear, there's another down piece by Outdoor Research called the Transcendent Sweater which I own and really like. I would also suggest you look at the Repoint Jacket by North Face. It's a synthetically insulated jacket which will also layer nicely. Hope that helps.

The Summits are definitely warmer. I'm actually wearing them right now and my feet are toasty.

The Summits are a much more "hardcore" mountaineering boot than the Charmoz too. If you're looking to tackle vertical ice, I would highly recommend the Summits over the Charmoz.

Yes they do. I'm wearing them right now and can see the little tab you'd pull out to fit the GSB spike in.

Hey Joe. The Kramer has a few benefits over a Gore-Tex shell. The Kramer has a bit of insulation on the upper arms and shoulders in the form of flat-back Monkey Phur. It helps to hold the warmer air on your shoulders a little bit better than a typical shell would. There is also a body-mapped micro fleece backer on the jacket which provides extra breathability under the arms but provides a little bit of heat retention across the back.

Insulation aside the only other benefits the Kramer has stem from it's ski/snowboard centric design. If you're not going to use it for skiing or boarding, then there are better jackets out there. Simply put, the removable snow skirt, goggle pocket, lift pass holder, and oodles of pockets are suited best for spending a day on the hill.

I have the Kramer and a Gore-Tex shell. For skiing, the Kramer is sweet. It's my fair weather ski shell, since I find it fits a little slimmer than most ski shells. The breathability can't be beat. In my opinion MHW makes some of the most breathable proprietary alternatives to Gore-Tex. That being said, this jacket is not for activities such as ice climbing. That's where the Gore-Tex shell proves its worth. Alpine pockets, unbeatable waterproofing, super hardy face fabrics, and a fit that you can seriously layer under make my hardshell my best friend with heading outside at -25 C.

So to answer your question in short. The Kramer is better for skiing, in my opinion, than typical hardshells. However, keep it on the hill. It has a few shortcomings when adapting to other activities.

Hey BZ. This glove is not waterproof. MHW is using either Conduit or OutDry in all their waterproof gloves this winter. So unless you see either of those technologies on the glove, it isn't waterproof.

Yo Rjg. I have the black Sentinel and it has accompanied me on a few rock trips. The black isn't too bad with chalk. I would probably throw it in the wash with some Tech Wash after a weekend of climbing though since the chalk is going to gum up the breathability of the fabric. Abrasion-wise this thing is tough as nails. Mine has stood up to a year of abuse and is almost in tip-top condition. I would suggest keeping the jacket away from fires. *grumble* Lint-wise I've had no problems at all. Then again I don't have any pets either.

I would try it on Robert. It's pretty easy to guess jacket sizes, but pants are a little trickier.

Yo FNM. Icebreaker stuff used to be made in New Zealand. They got so big though that the operation out grew the manufacturing capacity in NZ, so they moved it all to China. All Icebreaker is now made in China, according to my rep.

You can actually check out the manufacturing process on the Icebreaker website. They've got a little video showing the factory it's made in, which is pretty cool. Hope that helps.

Hey there Rwuff. It's not a high pile lining like the Herculues. It's very similar to the lining in a TNF Apex Bionic; just there to keep out a bit of the cold, but not really enough to act as an insulating layer (depending on your climate).

They aren't technically "waterproof", rather "highly water resistant". Chances are they won't soak right though, but your mid-layer is likely to get damp. If you want to remain totally dry go for a full on Gore-Tex pant.

Yes! This year uses a very different fleece fabric. Last year the Monkey Man used MHW's proprietary Monkey Phur fleece. It's very soft, but mats like crazy. This year they've switched to a Polartec fabric that is much coarser (i.e. less soft) but will stand up to matting much better than last year's model. It's still warm, just not as "pettable" as the '08 model.

It's a pure shell. There is no insulation in the Ferrosi. This thing won't insulate you, but it will help to cut the wind. If you're looking for a warmer softshell check out the OR Mithril Stormshell.

Okay, here's the rule of thumb I used when selling MHW sleeping bags. If you are:
5' 6" and shorter - use a short.
5' 7" to 6' - use a regular.
taller than 6' - Use a long.

This method has yet to fail me, and I stick to it when I buy myself sleeping bags.